The Center for Biblical Spirituality
Christmas Newsletter 2007
from the Don Whitney Family

Christmas greetings from the Whitney family! Joy to the world, the Lord is come!

The plaintive Christmas carol—O Come, O Come Emmanuel—has expressed the longings of God's people for some eight hundred years:

Recently I was praying through Psalm 42:1-2, which expresses similar spiritual longings: "As the deer pants for the water brooks, so my soul pants for You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when shall I come and appear before God?"

My soul does pant and thirst for God. But I must admit that every day—many times every day—my soul pants and thirsts for other things, too. Even though some of these desires are for good things, frankly, many of the thirsts of my soul are sinful thirsts.

Sometimes my desires for sinful things are very strong. Occasionally in such times, I am tempted to wonder how much true grace I have received. But I know this: I genuinely do thirst for God. To my shame, I also thirst for sinful things sometimes, but I do thirst for God.

When I thirst deeply for God, I often tell Him that I wish I never thirsted for sin. The Lord knows that I long for the day when He will totally sanctify me, so thoroughly renew my heart and mind that I'm never tempted by sin again.

But the fresh insight into this passage which brought me a joyful sense of assurance was this: when I am thirsting for sinful things, I never wish that I didn't know God. Do you see the contrast? I thirst for God, and often in the thrill of that thirst I wish I never had sinful thirsts. But in the midst of my sinful thirsts, I never wish I had no thirst for God.

Let me state it another way. When experiencing my primary thirst (i.e., thirst for God), I often despise my secondary (i.e., sinful) thirsts and wish they were obliterated. But never in my secondary thirsts do I want to eliminate my primary thirst.

I believe this is the experience of a Christian. I believe this is evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit. It is an illustration of how "the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh" (Gal. 5:17). In both the genuine thirsting for God and the predominance of thirsting for God over any other thirst—there is evidence of salvation. God be praised!

It's time for our annual Ten Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering. Many readers of this newsletter have reported that this bulletin insert has been very helpful when gathering with family or others during the Christmas season.

Some of us struggle to make conversation at Christmas gatherings, whether church events, work-related parties, neighborhood drop-ins, or annual family occasions. Sometimes our difficulty lies in having to chat with people we rarely see or have never met. At other times we simply don't know what to say to those with whom we feel little in common. Moreover, as Christians we want to take advantage of the special opportunities provided by the Christmas season to share our faith, but are often unsure how to begin.

Here's a list of questions designed not only to kindle a conversation in almost any Christmas situation, but also to take the dialogue gradually to a deeper level. Use them in a private conversation or as a group exercise, with believers or unbelievers, with strangers or with family. To read or download the bulletin insert, Ten Questions to Ask at a Christmas Gathering, click here, go to the homepage and click on "Bulletin Inserts."

It's not too late—if you order quickly—to get a copy of the small book, Family Worship: In the Bible, In History, and In Your Home book and/or CD for Christmas. We can send it to you directly, of course, or straight to the recipient of your gift. Click here to read more or to order.

Been thinking of starting family worship in your home at the beginning of the year, but need some help to get started? Considering a short class at church on family worship after the first of the year (there's a five-part discussion guide both in the book and on the audio CD)? If so, then now is the time to order.

The next National Conference sponsored by The Center for Biblical Spirituality is scheduled for April 4-5. My topic is Biblical Spiritual Disciplines for Real People. This practical conference is designed to make a daily difference in the spiritual lives of those whose Christward yearnings are perfectly expressed in Philippians 3:10, "that I may know Him." If this resonates with you, consider joining us on the beautiful campus of Southern Seminary in Louisville for two refreshing days in the spring. Click here for more information.

If you want to think ahead to the Sunday after Christmas, here's a reminder that there's also a bulletin insert on Ten Questions to Ask at the Start of a New Year at the "Bulletin Inserts" button on the website.

At the close of this year, I want to express my thanks to all you who pray for us. Thanks also to those who sent financial support to The Center for Biblical Spirituality this year. These are all gifts from Him "who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy" (1 Timothy 6:17). Most of all, "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift," the Lord Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 9:15). May the Lord greatly bless you this Christmas season!